Interview: Maria Nilsson, Viktoria

Maria Nilsson, Senior Researcher at Viktoria Swedish ICT.

Can you give us an example of your field of research?

I study how people perceive new technology and how that affects their interaction with it. Right now I work with automated vehicles. We will see a transformation from being a driver, in charge of the vehicle, to become a passenger in an automated vehicle. How this transformation is to be achieved in a successful way is my field of research.

Why is this area important?

Automated vehicles are technically possible in the near future. However, if we as a ”driver” do not understand what the vehicle is doing while "driving" we will not trust them. Hence, we need to focus on the design of the interface between the human and the technology, to ensure communication that build trust.